La France Specialties

harrydog · July 30, 2000, 12:46 PM

Does anybody have any information about their tungsten buffer assembly for the Benelli M1? It is supposed to reduce felt recoil by 40%. The problem is, this company will only sell to law enforcement or government agencies and won't even respond to civilian requests for information. This is not something that is illegal to have, so I wonder if there is another source for it or if there is anything similar to it being offered anywhere.
Thanks.

Robe · July 30, 2000, 12:57 PM

Sounds very interesting. How about posting what info you may have and maybe someone else may be able to get through to them. I'd be willing to try, but have no info and have not heard of this before.

harrydog · July 30, 2000, 05:56 PM

Their website is: www.nait.com/LAFRANCE/

jthuang · July 31, 2000, 07:45 AM

Off the top of my head, to reduce recoil you have a few options, other than the offering mentioned:

1. Send your Benelli to GG&G and then to Vang Comp for his special treatment. The Benelli barrels are too thin (or it's the chrome lining, I forget which) for the regular Vang Comp treatment so GG&G must work over the barrel first. The Vang Comp system is reputed to tighten your buckshot patterns and reduce recoil at the same time.

2. I seem to recall a segment on American Shooter blabbing about a new recoil reduction system offered by Hogue. I don't know if they make one for the Benelli, but it may be worth dropping an email to Hogue.

Justin

------------------
Justin T. Huang, Esq.
late of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

Dave McC · July 31, 2000, 10:57 AM

To reduce recoil there's other options....

And by and large they boil down to lighten the load or heavy up the shotgun.

The Tactical buck loads are liked by many for their reduced recoil. If you're shooting any of the clay games,going to a 1 oz load instead of 1 1/8 helps also.

Adding weight to a shotgun is one reason why trap guns run heavy. Even tho the loads are light, one shoots plenty, and the kick adds up.

My HD 870 runs about 9 1/2lbs. What kick?

Anoither thing that helps is lengthening the forcing cone. This reduces recoil slightly, and evens up patterns without actually making them smaller, I believe Vang does as part of their makeover.

Robe · July 31, 2000, 10:16 PM

The M1 is inertia operated and not gas operated like an 11-87. There is a spring in the M1 receiver that can be changed out to a lighter weight spring for shooting lighter loads. The M1 needs the heavy hitting shells to properly cycle. The LaFrance system is supposed to work with both light and heavy loads. The Hogue recoil reducing stock will not work on a M1. GGG needs your whole gun to do their mods. They take your thin walled original barrel and remove the tube portion and install a new tube onto the barrel fitting that has thicker walls and can be modified. Then GGG sends your new thicker walled barrel to Vang to be modified. GGG receives your modified barrel back and puts it on your M1 receiver and must then modify your recoil system to cycle properly by playing with different recoil spring weights. I have not done this, but would like to do it. Vang did an outstanding job to my 870. I understand it takes guite a long time to have it done. I imagine this setup would work best if GGG knew a certain type of ammo you used and could set up the gun for this. The inertia operated M1 can be ammo sensitive.
To answer your question about reduced recoil, Wolff sells replacement recoil springs for the M1. You could pick a certain type of reduced load shell and then set up your M1 to shoot that type of round.
What does this have to do with LaFrance? Nothing. This is where the post semed to be heading. I have looked at the LaFrance website and am trying to get a LEO/Benelli dealer to contact them about price on their system. I will post any info I get.Sorry for the rambling.

harrydog · August 1, 2000, 04:17 PM

Robe, thanks for looking into the La France system. I hope you can come up with something. From your description, the GGG/Vang modification sounds expensive. Also, wouldn't it ruin the chrome lining on the Benelli barrel?
Kick-EEZ makes a replacement recoil pad that will fit the Benelli. It is supposed to be the best of the recoil pads that will work on a Benelli. Costs $35. I might give it a try, but would really like to learn more about the La France buffer system first.

Bill

July 30, 2000, 12:46 PM	#1
harrydog Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2000 Posts: 283	Does anybody have any information about their tungsten buffer assembly for the Benelli M1? It is supposed to reduce felt recoil by 40%. The problem is, this company will only sell to law enforcement or government agencies and won't even respond to civilian requests for information. This is not something that is illegal to have, so I wonder if there is another source for it or if there is anything similar to it being offered anywhere. Thanks.

July 30, 2000, 12:57 PM	#2
Robe Member Join Date: February 4, 2000 Posts: 70	Sounds very interesting. How about posting what info you may have and maybe someone else may be able to get through to them. I'd be willing to try, but have no info and have not heard of this before.

July 30, 2000, 05:56 PM	#3
harrydog Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2000 Posts: 283	Their website is: www.nait.com/LAFRANCE/

July 31, 2000, 07:45 AM	#4
jthuang Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2000 Posts: 823	Off the top of my head, to reduce recoil you have a few options, other than the offering mentioned: 1. Send your Benelli to GG&G and then to Vang Comp for his special treatment. The Benelli barrels are too thin (or it's the chrome lining, I forget which) for the regular Vang Comp treatment so GG&G must work over the barrel first. The Vang Comp system is reputed to tighten your buckshot patterns and reduce recoil at the same time. 2. I seem to recall a segment on American Shooter blabbing about a new recoil reduction system offered by Hogue. I don't know if they make one for the Benelli, but it may be worth dropping an email to Hogue. Justin ------------------ Justin T. Huang, Esq. late of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

July 31, 2000, 10:57 AM	#5
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	To reduce recoil there's other options.... And by and large they boil down to lighten the load or heavy up the shotgun. The Tactical buck loads are liked by many for their reduced recoil. If you're shooting any of the clay games,going to a 1 oz load instead of 1 1/8 helps also. Adding weight to a shotgun is one reason why trap guns run heavy. Even tho the loads are light, one shoots plenty, and the kick adds up. My HD 870 runs about 9 1/2lbs. What kick? Anoither thing that helps is lengthening the forcing cone. This reduces recoil slightly, and evens up patterns without actually making them smaller, I believe Vang does as part of their makeover.

July 31, 2000, 10:16 PM	#6
Robe Member Join Date: February 4, 2000 Posts: 70	The M1 is inertia operated and not gas operated like an 11-87. There is a spring in the M1 receiver that can be changed out to a lighter weight spring for shooting lighter loads. The M1 needs the heavy hitting shells to properly cycle. The LaFrance system is supposed to work with both light and heavy loads. The Hogue recoil reducing stock will not work on a M1. GGG needs your whole gun to do their mods. They take your thin walled original barrel and remove the tube portion and install a new tube onto the barrel fitting that has thicker walls and can be modified. Then GGG sends your new thicker walled barrel to Vang to be modified. GGG receives your modified barrel back and puts it on your M1 receiver and must then modify your recoil system to cycle properly by playing with different recoil spring weights. I have not done this, but would like to do it. Vang did an outstanding job to my 870. I understand it takes guite a long time to have it done. I imagine this setup would work best if GGG knew a certain type of ammo you used and could set up the gun for this. The inertia operated M1 can be ammo sensitive. To answer your question about reduced recoil, Wolff sells replacement recoil springs for the M1. You could pick a certain type of reduced load shell and then set up your M1 to shoot that type of round. What does this have to do with LaFrance? Nothing. This is where the post semed to be heading. I have looked at the LaFrance website and am trying to get a LEO/Benelli dealer to contact them about price on their system. I will post any info I get.Sorry for the rambling.

August 1, 2000, 04:17 PM	#7
harrydog Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2000 Posts: 283	Robe, thanks for looking into the La France system. I hope you can come up with something. From your description, the GGG/Vang modification sounds expensive. Also, wouldn't it ruin the chrome lining on the Benelli barrel? Kick-EEZ makes a replacement recoil pad that will fit the Benelli. It is supposed to be the best of the recoil pads that will work on a Benelli. Costs $35. I might give it a try, but would really like to learn more about the La France buffer system first. Bill